Dual-axis folding table

ABSTRACT

A dual-axis folding table including four quarter panels that together form a table top when extended into a flat and horizontal position. The four quarter panels include a first panel and a second panel hinged together with a first axis hinge along a first folding axis, a fourth panel and a third panel hinged together with an additional first axis hinge, also along the first folding axis, and the second panel and the third panel further hinged together with a second axis hinge along a second folding axis. Furthermore, the first panel is configured to fold into the second panel about the first axis hinge and the fourth panel is configured to fold into the third panel about the additional first axis hinge to fold the table top in half, and the second panel is configured to fold into the third panel about the second axis hinge to fold the table top into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case.

PRIORITY CLAIM

Priority is claimed to copending U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/177,600, filed May 12, 2009, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly describedherein, the present invention resides in a dual-axis folding tablecomprising four quarter panels that together form a table top whenextended into a flat position. The four quarter panels include a firstpanel and a second panel hinged together with a first axis hinge along afirst folding axis, a fourth panel and a third panel hinged togetherwith an additional first axis hinge along the first folding axis, andthe second panel and the third panel hinged together with a second axishinge along a second folding axis. Additionally, the first panel isconfigured to fold into the second panel about the first axis hinge andthe fourth panel is configured to fold into the third panel about theadditional first axis hinge, to fold the table top in half. The secondpanel is further configured to fold into the third panel about thesecond axis hinge, to fold the table top into a quarter-sized,self-contained and portable carrying case.

The present invention also resides in a method of folding a dual-axisfolding table into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case, whichmethod comprises the steps of obtaining a table top including fourquarter panels together forming a table top when extended into a flatposition, the table top including a first panel and a second panel beinghinged with a first axis hinge along a first folding axis, a fourthpanel and a third panel being hinged with an additional first axis hingealong the first folding axis, and the second panel and the third panelbeing hinged with a second axis hinge along a second folding axis. Themethod also includes the step of folding the first panel into the secondpanel about the first axis hinge, and folding the fourth panel into thethird panel about the additional first axis hinge, to fold the table topin half. The method further includes the step of folding the secondpanel into the third panel about the second axis hinge, to fold thetable top into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent fromthe detailed description that follows, and when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings together illustrate, by way of example,features of the invention. It will be readily appreciated that thesedrawings merely depict representative embodiments of the presentinvention and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, and thatthe components of the invention, as generally described and illustratedin the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a variety ofdifferent configurations. Nonetheless, the present invention will bedescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a folding table in a fully openand upright position, in accordance with a representative embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the folding table of FIG. 1 ina closed carrying-case position;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the folding table of FIG. 1 ina semi-closed position;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the folding table of FIG. 1 ina half-open position;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the folding table of FIG. 1 inthree-quarter open position;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the folding table in a fullyopen and upside-down position, in accordance with the embodiment of theFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates a close-up, perspective view of a table leg and acorresponding corner receptacle, in accordance with the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a close-up, perspective view center locking hub and acorresponding hub pin holes, in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS.1 and 6;

FIG. 9 illustrates a close-up, perspective view of the joint platereceiving holes located in the supporting frames of the quarter panels,in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 6; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a close-up, perspective view of a panel-lockingjoint plate, in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of representative embodiments of thepresent invention makes reference to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part thereof and in which are shown, by way of illustration,various representative embodiments in which the invention can bepracticed. While these embodiments are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should beunderstood that other embodiments can be realized and that variouschanges can be made to the invention without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention. As such, the following detaileddescription of the representative embodiments is not intended to limitthe scope of the invention as it is claimed, but rather is presented forpurposes of illustration, to describe the features and characteristicsof the present invention, and to sufficiently enable one skilled in theart to practice the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the presentinvention is to be defined solely by the appended claims.

The present invention describes a dual-axis folding table system and amethod of assembling the same, in accordance with a representativeembodiment of the present invention. The folding table can include fourquarter panels that together form a table top when extended into a flatand horizontal position. The four quarter panels can include a firstpanel and a second panel that hinged with a first axis hinge along afirst folding axis, a fourth panel and a third panel that hinged with anadditional first axis hinge along the first folding axis, and the secondpanel and the third panel being hinged with a second axis hinge along asecond folding axis. The panels can be further configured so thatfolding the first panel into the second panel about the first axis hingeand folding the fourth panel into the third panel about the additionalfirst axis hinge operates to fold the table top in half, and folding thesecond panel into the third panel about the second axis hinge operatesto fold the table top into a quarter-sized, self-contained and portablecarrying case.

With reference to FIG. 1, illustrated is a perspective view of adual-axis folding table 10 in a fully open and upright position, inaccordance with one representative embodiment of the present invention.As shown in more detail in both FIGS. 1 and 5, the folding table 10 canbe comprised of a table top 14 which can be further comprised four topquarter panels 20, identified for convenience in a clockwise fashion aspanels A, B, C and D, with each quarter panel having a topside surface22, a bottom side surface 24, and a supporting frame 26 that extendsdownwards around the periphery of the panel to form an interior space 28surrounding the bottom side face of the panel. As will be shown in moredetail hereinafter, the table legs 60 and locking hardware 70 can bestored within the interior spaces 28 of the quarter panel frames 26until they are ready for use.

The quarter panels 20 comprising the table top 14 can be made from avariety of materials, including aluminum, plastic (such asinjection-molded plastic), composites made from fiber-reinforced carbon,as well as more traditional materials including solid wood and woodenlaminates. The supporting frame 26 can be made from the same ordifference material as the panel 20, and can be formed separately fromor integrally with the panel, depending on both the materials and themethods of manufacture used to make the folding table. In arepresentative embodiment it can be desirable to use lightweightmaterials to keep the overall weight of the dual-axis folding table 10between 15 and 20 pounds.

The four quarter panels 20 can be attached together using three hinges,such as piano hinges, etc. Two first axis hinges 32 can attach twogroups of quarter panels together into quarter panel sets, such as panelset A-B and panel set D-C, so that the quarter panel sets fold togetheralong a first folding axis 30. Furthermore, both first axis hinges canattach at the bottom side of each panel's respective frame 26 so thatthe interior sides or spaces 28 of each set come together when foldedinto the closed position. Thus, the panels and first axis hinges 32 canbe configured so that folding the first panel A into the second panel Babout a first axis hinge, and folding the fourth panel D into the thirdpanel C also about a first axis hinge, operates to fold the table top 14into two halves 36 (see FIG. 4).

A third hinge, also known as the second axis hinge 42, can be used toattach the two panels sets together using, for instance, panels B and C,so that two panels (and panel sets) fold together along a second foldingaxis 40. The second axis hinge can attach at the topside of each panel'srespective frame so that the topside faces 22 of the two panels cometogether when folding about the second axis into the closed position.The second axis hinge can also be positioned within a slight recess orgroove formed into the topside edge of the panels, so as to minimize anyprotruding structures above the upper surface of the assembled table topwhile keeping the second folding axis aligned with the plane of theupper surface. The second folding axis 40 can be orthogonal orperpendicular to the first folding axis 30, and can be offset in thevertical direction from the first folding axis by the thickness of thesupport frames 26, in order to allow adjacent panels to fold togetherflush and parallel into each other. Consequently, the second axis hinge42 allows the two closed quarter panel halves to fold one more timeabout the second axis to form a quarter-sized box or carrying case 46(see FIG. 2).

In one representative embodiment, each quarter panel 20 can have a 0.125inch thickness combined with an approximately 1.25 inch deep supportingframe 26, so that the four quarter panels folding together side-by-sidecan result in the folding table having an overall thickness of 5.5inches or less in the closed, carrying case position 46.

Once completely closed or folded, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the tabletop 14 can be held in the closed, carrying case position 46 with the twohandles 50, which can have a locking device 52 or which can simplyVelcro together. It is to be appreciated that other types of hardwarefasteners or latching devices can also be used to secure the foldingtable in the closed, carrying case position. As can also be seen, thetopside surfaces 22 of the panels A, D (which were not coupled togetherwith the second axis hinge) can become the outside side surfaces of thefolding table 10 in its most closed and compacted position 46.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, each of the four quarter panels 20 can berectangular or square to form a rectangular or square table top 14. In arepresentative embodiment, for example, the four quarter panels can eachbe 18×18 inches, and together forming a square table top 14 that is36×36 inches square when assembled. It is to be appreciated, however,that other configurations and shapes of the quarter panels and theoverall table top are also possible and which can fall within the scopeof the present invention, so long as the four quarter panels can beconfigured to fold about a first and second folding axis. For instance,it is contemplated that each of the four quarter panels can be providedwith a shape of a right-angle arc, so that upon assembled they togetherform a table top having an overall oblong or round shape.

To assemble the folding table from the closed and compacted position 46(FIG. 2), the table top 14 can first be opened by unlocking the handles50 or latching device 52 and unfolding the closed sets of panels A-B,D-C about the second folding axis hinge 42 (FIG. 3), so that theinterior spaces of all four quarter panels 20 are adjacent each otherand the table top has been opened to the folded halves position 36 (FIG.4). With the handles 50 facing downwards, the two sets of quarter panelsA-B, D-C can then be unfolded about the first folding axis hinges 32using the handles, so that the bottom side faces 24, supporting frame26, and interior spaces are now facing upwards, and the topside surfaces22 of the quarter panels 20 facing downward (FIG. 5).

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the table legs 60 and locking hardware 70stored within the interior sides of the quarter panel frames are nowaccessible for completing the process of assembling the folding table10. The legs of the table can be removed from their storage locationsand installed into receptacles 62 provided at the outer projectingcorners of each quarter panel 20. Moreover, locking hardware, such asjoint plates 70, can also be removed from their storage locations andinstalled into positions around the joints of the table top to brace thequarter panels together prevent rotation about the first and second axeshinges after the table has been assembled for use.

Illustrated in FIG. 6 is perspective view of the dual-axis folding table10 of FIG. 1 with the table top 14 in a fully open and upside-downposition and after assembly of the table legs 60 and locking hardware70, 80. Each table leg can be extendable in a telescoping fashion, withan interior leg telescoping out from the outer leg. Furthermore, eachtable leg can also have an adjustable bottom tip which screws out toallow minor adjustments in length to accommodate uneven floors or groundsurfaces. As shown in more detail in FIG. 7, in one representativeembodiment the top ends 64 of the table legs 60 can also be equippedwith an 0-rings 66 to better secure the table legs into the receptacles62 by providing for a resilient yet flexible compressive fit between thetable leg and the receptacle. The table leg can further include achamfered or protruding hard stop 68 which engages the top edge of thereceptacle when the table leg is in the installed position, to furthersecure the table leg in position. It is to be appreciated that otherconfigurations and methods of attaching the table legs 60 to the openand upside-down table top 14, including table legs with screw threads orpinned attachment mechanisms, etc., are also considered to fall withinthe scope of the present invention.

In the representative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, thelocking hardware can include four panel-locking joint plates 70, witheach joint plate having multiple pins 74 with o-rings 76. After removalfrom their storage holders, the pins 74 in the joint plates can bepressed into joint plate receiving holes 72 located in the supportframes 26 on both sides of each panel joint 78 so that the joint platesstraddle the panel joint and prevent further rotation of any two panels20 about a joint 78 or hinge 32. It is also to be appreciated that otherconfigurations and methods of securing any two adjacent panels 20 fromrotation about a panel joint 78 after assembly, including sliding barsor rotating clips, etc., are also considered to fall within the scope ofthe present invention.

The locking hardware can further include a center locking hub 80, alsohaving multiple hub pins 84 with o-rings 86, as shown in FIG. 8. Onceremoved from its storage location, the hub pins 84 of the center lockinghub can be pressed into corresponding hub pin receiving holes 82 locatedat the center of the table 88 around the four-cornered junction 88 ofthe quarter panels 20. This allows the center locking hub 80 to straddlethe center junction 88 and provide additional rigidity to the middle ofthe table 10 during use. It is also to be appreciated that otherconfigurations and methods of supporting the middle of the table aboutthe center junction to provide additional rigidity to the middle of thetable 10 during use, including sliding support bars or a center tableleg, etc., are also considered to fall within the scope of the presentinvention.

After assembly of the table legs 60 and locking hardware 70, 80 to thebottom and sides of the table top 14 is complete, the table legs can beindividually adjusted to a desired height and the table turned over foruse.

In the representative embodiment described above, with each panel being18×18 inches in size, an un-extended table leg. 60 enclosed on thediagonal inside the interior space can be up to about 18-22 inches inlength, taking into account the table leg receptacles and center hubmounted to the corners of each panel 20. Consequently, eachindividually-adjustable leg can be extended an additional 18 inchesbeyond their fixed 18-22 inch length, to elevate the table top as highas 38 to 40 inches. If so desired, two adjacent table legs can beextended less than the other two legs, which can function to orientatethe table top 14 at a tilt or incline, as could be used to set aportable drafting table at a job site. Moreover, theindividually-adjustable legs can also allow the folding table to be usedon an uneven ground surface while supporting the table top in an uprightand level or inclined position.

The foregoing detailed description describes the invention withreference to specific representative embodiments. However, it will beappreciated that various modifications and changes can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as set forth in theappended claims. The detailed description and accompanying drawings areto be regarded as illustrative, rather than restrictive, and any suchmodifications or changes are intended to fall within the scope of thepresent invention as described and set forth herein.

More specifically, while illustrative representative embodiments of theinvention have been described herein, the present invention is notlimited to these embodiments, but includes any and all embodimentshaving modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects acrossvarious embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations as would beappreciated by those skilled in the art based on the foregoing detaileddescription. The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadlybased on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examplesdescribed in the foregoing detailed description or during theprosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed asnon-exclusive. For example, any steps recited in any method or processclaims, furthermore, may be executed in any order and are not limited tothe order presented in the claims. The term “preferably” is alsonon-exclusive where it is intended to mean “preferably, but not limitedto.” Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined solelyby the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by thedescriptions and examples given above.

1. A dual-axis folding table, comprising: four quarter panels together forming a table top when extended into a flat position, including: a first panel and a second panel hinged together with a first axis hinge along a first folding axis; a fourth panel and a third panel hinged together with an additional first axis hinge along the first folding axis; and the second panel and the third panel hinged together with a second axis hinge along a second folding axis; the first panel being configured to fold into the second panel about the first axis hinge and the fourth panel being configured to fold into the third panel about the additional first axis hinge, to fold the table top in half; and the second panel being configured to fold into the third panel about the second axis hinge, to fold the table top into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case.
 2. The foldable table top of claim 1, wherein the first and second axes are orthogonal to one another.
 3. The foldable table top of claim 1, wherein each of the four quarter panels further comprises a support frame.
 4. The foldable table top of claim 3, wherein the first folding axis and the second folding axis are offset one from the other by the thickness of the support frames.
 5. The foldable table top of claim 3, wherein a plurality of table legs are stored within the support frames of the quarter panel.
 6. The foldable table top of claim 3, wherein a plurality of locking hardware are stored within the support frames of the quarter panel.
 7. The foldable table top of claim 1, wherein each of the four quarter panels is rectangular to form a rectangular table top.
 8. The foldable table top of claim 1, wherein each of the four quarter panels has the shape of a right-angle arc to form a rounded table top.
 9. The foldable table top of claim 1, further comprising a central locking hub located at approximately a center of the table top and connecting with each of the four quarter panels to provide rigidity at a center of the dual-axis folding table.
 10. A method of folding a dual-axis folding table into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case, comprising: obtaining a table top including four quarter panels together forming a table top when extended into a flat position, including: a first panel and a second panel being hinged with a first axis hinge along a first folding axis; a fourth panel and a third panel being hinged with an additional first axis hinge along the first folding axis; and the second panel and the third panel being hinged with a second axis hinge along a second folding axis; folding the first panel into the second panel about the first axis hinge and folding the fourth panel into the third panel about the additional first axis hinge, to fold the table top in half; and folding the second panel into the third panel about the second axis hinge, to fold the table top into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising removing a plurality of table legs from the table top prior to folding the quarter panels.
 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising removing a plurality of locking hardware from the table top prior to folding the quarter panels.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising inserting a central locking hub at a center of the table top and locking the hub in place with each of the quarter panels to provide support at the center of the table top. 